Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken moves ahead with plans to rebuild fire-ravaged restaurant

The co-franchisee for Dayton-area Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken restaurants says he is moving ahead with plans to rebuild at 4140 N. Main St. in Harrison Twp. after the restaurant was destroyed by a fryer fire in December 2018.

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“We’ve been working diligently to get to this point so we can start the rebuilding process,” Lee’s co-franchisee Ken Riddle said.

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“We’ve applied for permits, and once they are issued, we are ready to start the rebuilding. We hope to be open by the end of this year.”

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“We continue to get inquiries from our guests that live in that area and frequented that store asking us what our plans are. We’re thankful that they have been patient with us. We look forward to seeing them at the restaurant when we reopen.”

The restaurant was declared total loss after a fire that started in the kitchen gutted the building.

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Firefighters found a fryer on fire upon arrival, but heavy flames and black smoke spread to the attic quickly, forcing firefighters to retreat from the building and attempt to fight it from outside.

Three to four employees were in the building at the time of the fire, but no one was hurt.

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